Page 18 of Hunted to the Altar (Caputo Crime Family #3)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

S amuel

The air in the safe house felt heavier than usual.

The kind of weight that pressed against your chest, making every breath a conscious effort.

I could feel it as I stood by the window, the twinkling in the distance, mocking the chaos that swirled within these walls.

Behind me, the faint rustle of movement caught my attention.

I didn’t turn around immediately; instead, I let the sound of her fill the silence.

Nina.

She was pacing again, her bare feet whispering against the hardwood floor.

Now and then, her muttered curses punctuated the quiet, a symphony of frustration that made the corners of my mouth twitch in amusement.

She hated this, hated me, but she was still here.

And that simple fact sent a dangerous thrill through me.

I finally turned, my gaze landing on her as she moved from one end of the room to the other, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her hair was wild, a cascade of curls that framed her face and made her look like she’d just stepped out of a storm.

Her dark skin glowed faintly in the soft light of the room, and her expressive eyes—always filled with fire and belligerence—darted to me the moment she realized I was watching.

I chuckled, the sound rough. "You should try to relax."

She didn’t respond, just twisted on her heel and resumed her pacing. I watched her for a moment longer before pushing off the window and walking toward the small bar in the corner. Pouring myself a drink, I let the familiar burn of whiskey calm the restless energy buzzing under my skin.

"You’re not even trying to make this bearable," she muttered behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Bearable?"

"You heard me," she said, stopping again to face me. "You’ve dragged me into your world, made me—what did you call it? Yours? And yet you act like I’m just some pawn on your chessboard."

I turned fully, holding the glass loosely in my hand. "You’re not a pawn, Nina."

"No? Then what am I?"

I took a slow sip, letting the warmth of the alcohol spread through me before answering. "You’re the queen."

Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing across her face before she masked it with a scoff. "Is that supposed to be flattering?"

"It’s the truth," I said simply. "The queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Everything I do is to protect you."

"Protect me?" she repeated, her voice rising. "You’re the one I need protection from!"

I set the glass down on the bar, the sound sharp and deliberate. In two strides, I was in front of her, close enough to see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, to feel the heat radiating off her skin. Her defiance didn’t waver, even as her breath hitched slightly.

"You think I’m the villain in your story," I murmured, my voice low. "And maybe I am. But I’m also the only one standing between you and the monsters waiting to devour you."

Her eyes searched mine, her lips parting as if to argue. But no words came. Instead, the silence stretched between us, thick and charged. I could see the conflict in her gaze, the war between her hatred for me and the instinctive pull she couldn’t seem to resist.

I reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away, but she didn’t. My fingers brushed against her jaw, tracing the delicate line of her face. She stiffened, her breath catching, but she didn’t move.

"Why do you fight me so hard?" I asked, my thumb grazing the corner of her mouth. "Is it because you’re afraid?"

Her eyes narrowed, the fire flaring back to life. "I’m not afraid of you."

"No?" I tilted my head, studying her. "Then why are you shaking?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening as she tried to wrestle back control. But I saw it—the way her body betrayed her, the slight tremor in her hands, the way her pulse raced beneath my touch.

I let my hand drop, taking a step back to give her space. "You don’t have to admit it, Nina. But we both know the truth."

"You know nothing about me," she shot back, her voice trembling with anger.

I smirked, my gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before turning away. "Keep telling yourself that."

The tension lingered in the air, unresolved and electric. I let it simmer for a few moments longer before an idea struck me. Moving to the small study attached to the living room, I pulled the ornate chessboard from its place on the shelf and set it up on the coffee table.

"Come here," I called out, my tone calm but firm.

Nina paused her pacing, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What now?"

"Sit," I said, gesturing to the chair across from me. "We’re going to play a game."

She crossed her arms, her defiance palpable. "I’m not in the mood for games, Samuel."

I leaned back in my chair, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Humor me. Besides, this isn’t just a game. It’s a bet."

Her brow furrowed, curiosity flickering in her gaze despite herself. "What kind of bet?"

I steepled my fingers, studying her. "If you win, I’ll give you a little more freedom. Let you move around the penthouse without my constant presence. Maybe even let you onto the terrace."

Her eyes lit up briefly before suspicion darkened them again. "And if I lose?"

I let the silence hang for a moment, leaning forward slightly. "If you lose, you’ll give me your body tonight."

Her gasp was audible, her cheeks flushing with a mix of outrage and something she refused to name. "You’re insane."

"Perhaps," I said with a shrug. "But the terms are fair. Freedom for you, or your submission for me."

Her fists clenched at her sides, and for a moment, I thought she might refuse outright. But then she squared her shoulders, her chin tilting up defiantly. "Fine."

I gestured to the chair again, and this time, she sat. Her movements were stiff, her glare sharp enough to pierce through me, but she was here. And that was enough.

As the game began, I couldn’t help but admire her focus.

She moved her pieces with precision, her eyes darting across the board as she planned her next move.

But while she was clever, she lacked experience.

I watched her closely, not just her strategy but the way her lips pressed together in concentration, the way her fingers lingered on a piece before committing to a move.

She was beautiful in her aggression, and it made the game even more thrilling.

"You’re better than I expected," I said, breaking the silence.

"Don’t patronize me," she snapped, her focus never wavering.

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. "I’m not. You’re good, Nina. But you’re not good enough."

Her glare shot up to meet mine, and for a moment, the tension between us flared. But then she returned her attention to the board, her determination palpable. She wanted to win, not just for the freedom I’d promised but to prove that she could.

In the end, though, it wasn’t enough. With a final move, I captured her king, the sound of the piece clicking against the board echoing in the quiet room.

"Checkmate," I said softly.

Her shoulders slumped, defeat washing over her. But the fire in her eyes didn’t dim. "You cheated."

I smirked, standing and moving around the table to her side. "I didn’t. But even if I had, the outcome would be the same."

She glared up at me, her defiance blazing. "You think this means anything? You think I’ll just give in because of some stupid bet?"

I crouched beside her, my hand brushing against her knee as I leaned in close. "A bet’s a bet, Nina. And you agreed to the terms."

Her breath hitched, her eyes darting to my lips before snapping back to mine. "You’re impossible."

"And yet, here we are," I murmured, my voice low and filled with unspoken promise .

The silence stretched between us, thick and electric. And in that moment, I knew I had her exactly where I wanted her.

But the moment wasn’t enough. My hands itched with the desire to take more, to claim her in ways that left no room for argument or resistance. And yet, I refrained. Barely.

Instead, I rose slowly, offering her my hand. She stared at it for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line as she weighed her options. When she didn’t take it, I chuckled softly.

"Suit yourself," I said, moving back to my seat. "But don’t forget, Nina. You owe me."

Her jaw tightened, her anger barely contained. "You’ll never get what you want."

I tilted my head, studying her with a lazy smirk. "That remains to be seen."

As I cleared the chessboard, my movements slow and deliberate, I felt her eyes on me. The tension between us hadn’t lessened—it had only sharpened, an invisible thread pulling us closer even as we both fought to resist it.

When I stood, I crossed to her again, stopping just shy of her space. The fight in her eyes was unmistakable, but so was the flicker of uncertainty.

"Goodnight, Nina," I said softly, my voice low and measured. But before I could fully retreat, I leaned in closer, my face inches from hers. "Or are you too angry to let me leave without a proper goodbye?"

Her breath caught, her lips parting slightly as I tilted my head, my gaze dropping to her mouth. The heat between us was undeniable, a charged tension that dared her to make a move. But when I leaned in just enough to brush her cheek with my breath, she jerked back.

"Don’t," she said sharply, her voice trembling but resolute.

I stilled, the rejection settling like a stone in my chest. But instead of anger, a smirk played on my lips. "You’ll regret that," I said darkly, my tone dripping with promise. "Mark my words, Nina."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and left the room, the echo of my footsteps the only sound, as the tension I left behind suffocated the space we shared. For now, I’d let her have her victory. But it wouldn’t last.